9  With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

6  The words of the wicked ⁱlie in wait for blood,

but ^jthe mouth of the upright delivers them.

27  ^yA worthless man plots evil,

and his speech¹ is like ^za scorching fire.

28  ^aA dishonest man spreads strife,

and ^ba whisperer ^cseparates close friends.

5  Whoever mocks the poor ^rinsults his Maker;

he who is ^sglad at calamity will not go ^tunpunished.

9  Whoever ^zcovers an offense seeks love,

but he who repeats a matter ^aseparates close friends.

6  A fool’s lips walk into a fight,

and his mouth invites ^da beating.

8  ^fThe words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into ^gthe inner parts of the body.

19  ^aBetter is a poor person who ^bwalks in his integrity

than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

19  Whoever ^egoes about slandering reveals secrets;

therefore do not associate with ^fa simple babbler.¹

10  ^cDrive out a scoffer, ^dand strife will go out,

and ^equarreling and abuse will cease.

9  ^xArgue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another’s secret,

10  lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

23  The north wind brings forth rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

20  For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no ^pwhisperer, ^qquarreling ceases.

21  As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is ^ra quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22  ^sThe words of ^pa whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23  ^tLike the ^uglaze¹ covering an earthen vessel

are fervent lips with an evil heart.